PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a subject information acquisition apparatus capable of shortening the period required for acquisition of subject information.SOLUTION: A subject information acquisition apparatus comprises: irradiating means to irradiate a subject with light plurality of detecting means to receive an elastic wave generated within the subject irradiated with light and convert the elastic wave into a received signal distribution acquiring means to acquire a light intensity distribution within the subject irradiated with light setting means to select a minimum constitution unit in which light intensity is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold, using the light intensity distribution and generating means to generate subject information for the minimum constitution unit selected by the setting unit, using the received signal.COPYRIGHT: (C)2014,JPO&INPIT【課題】被検体情報を取得するまでの時間を短縮することのできる被検体情報取得装置を提供する。【解決手段】被検体に光を照射する照射手段と、光を照射された前記被検体内で発生する弾性波を受信して受信信号に変換する複数の検出手段と、光が照射された前記被検体内の光強度分布を取得する分布取得手段と、前記光強度分布を用いて、光強度が所定の閾値以上である最小構成単位を選択する設定手段と、前記受信信号を用いて前記設定手段により選択された前記最小構成単位の被検体情報を生成する生成手段と、を有する。【選択図】図2
